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Fire damages China Restuarant
By: Mitchell Trinka, Staff Reporter
08/25/2006
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Working toward the construction of her new Japanese restaurant, Katie Guo, owner of that space and the Chinese restaurant next door, had a huge setback in her plans after a grease fire burned a hole in the roof of her Chinese restaurant.
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Guo, owner for 15 years, said she wasn't there when the fire started, but said now that she sees the extent of the damage, it looks like she and her staff have a lot to take care of to get the store up and running again.
She said with all the damage still not appraised, there is no timetable for re-opening, but said it will happen as soon as possible.
"I feel terrible," said Guo.
Chris Hawks, chief of the Millbrook Fire Department, said the fire started Sunday afternoon after a flame came up from one of the cooking surfaces, moved through the ventilation system, and up through the roof.
Since flames came out the roof ventilator and heavy smoke out of the building, Hawks thought it best to have Union Vale, Dover, Pleasant Valley, Amenia, and Arlington fire departments at the fire.
"We knew we had fire in the ceiling, but with the adjacent buildings, I didn't want to take any chances," said Hawks.
According to Hawks, the fire was under control after an hour and from start to finish, the company closed the scene in three hours.
"It went pretty smooth," said Hawks.
Health Department representative Krys Wasieleski, was amazed at the damage caused by a standard grease fire.
"I didn't realize how much damage there was until I walked in," said Wasieleski.
Jim Tyger, town building inspector, was there after getting a call from Hawks to say the fire was under control. He said that the fire probably happened so fast that once it went into the ventilation system, there was little the restaurant employees could do to stop it from moving up the roof joists and rafters.
"The fire department did a great job containing this thing," said Tyger.
Mayor Donald Briggs, agreed with the assessment, saying it could have been a lot worse, possibly setting the entire building complex aflame.
"We are very lucky," said Briggs.
Tyger and Wasieleski said the debris needs to be cleaned out after all of the food in the store is discarded. After that Guo will need to find a way to cover the 3 by 10 foot hole in her restaurant's ceiling to protect the restaurant and its equipment from rainwater damage.
After the clean up, Guo will have to contact an engineer or architect to redesign a roof for the building.
Guo hopes that day comes soon.
By: Mitchell Trinka, Staff Reporter
08/25/2006
email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
Working toward the construction of her new Japanese restaurant, Katie Guo, owner of that space and the Chinese restaurant next door, had a huge setback in her plans after a grease fire burned a hole in the roof of her Chinese restaurant.
Advertisement
Guo, owner for 15 years, said she wasn't there when the fire started, but said now that she sees the extent of the damage, it looks like she and her staff have a lot to take care of to get the store up and running again.
She said with all the damage still not appraised, there is no timetable for re-opening, but said it will happen as soon as possible.
"I feel terrible," said Guo.
Chris Hawks, chief of the Millbrook Fire Department, said the fire started Sunday afternoon after a flame came up from one of the cooking surfaces, moved through the ventilation system, and up through the roof.
Since flames came out the roof ventilator and heavy smoke out of the building, Hawks thought it best to have Union Vale, Dover, Pleasant Valley, Amenia, and Arlington fire departments at the fire.
"We knew we had fire in the ceiling, but with the adjacent buildings, I didn't want to take any chances," said Hawks.
According to Hawks, the fire was under control after an hour and from start to finish, the company closed the scene in three hours.
"It went pretty smooth," said Hawks.
Health Department representative Krys Wasieleski, was amazed at the damage caused by a standard grease fire.
"I didn't realize how much damage there was until I walked in," said Wasieleski.
Jim Tyger, town building inspector, was there after getting a call from Hawks to say the fire was under control. He said that the fire probably happened so fast that once it went into the ventilation system, there was little the restaurant employees could do to stop it from moving up the roof joists and rafters.
"The fire department did a great job containing this thing," said Tyger.
Mayor Donald Briggs, agreed with the assessment, saying it could have been a lot worse, possibly setting the entire building complex aflame.
"We are very lucky," said Briggs.
Tyger and Wasieleski said the debris needs to be cleaned out after all of the food in the store is discarded. After that Guo will need to find a way to cover the 3 by 10 foot hole in her restaurant's ceiling to protect the restaurant and its equipment from rainwater damage.
After the clean up, Guo will have to contact an engineer or architect to redesign a roof for the building.
Guo hopes that day comes soon.